Framed wall construction with blowout panel



July 5, 1966 D. J. DIRKsE 3,258,890

FRAMED WALL CONSTRUCTION WITH BLOWOUT PANEL Filed May 28, 1962 INVENTOR. g 5 @m0/Ov. @fw/ HSE/V United States Patent O 3,258,890 FRAMED WALL CGNSTRUCTION WITH BLOWOUT PANEL Donald J. Dirkse, Midland, Mich., assigner to The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 28, 1962, Ser. No. 198,234 Claims. (Cl. 52-309) This invention relates to building construction. It more particularly relates to an improved wall structure and components thereof wherein a wall is provided with a removable panel.

In building construction, particularly those buildings which are utilized in the process industries, it is frequently beneficial to have portions of the walls thereof which are readily removable. Wall portions of the type that can 'be removed by a sudden differential of pressure occurring between one surface of the wall and the opposite surface thereof, such as frequently happens when there is an explosion in the building are of great utility. Frequently, such structures are referred to as blowout or explosion panels and are often constructed of relatively light weight material which is adapted to collapse, break, :or otherwise relieve any sudden incr-ease in pressure occurring across the building wall. Many of such blowout structures are constructed in such a manner that they are permanently installed and can not be readily removed except in case of explosion or major disassembly of the structure. Other forms of blowout walls are frequently utilized which involve removable panels which may be disassembled from a framework if access is necessary or they may be blown out readily 'by a force of an explosion without allowing excessive internal pressure within the building. Much difiiculty has been encountered in fabricating a blow out or removable wall `structure which has all the desired features of a wall including rigidity, weather resistance, low permeability to vapors, and a tight seal against the penetration of water in the form of rain, moisture vapor, and the like. Particularly difficult in the fabrication of walls of the blowout type is the factor of providing insulation against temperature differences which are extreme. Usually, in the blowout type construction it is necessary to permanently install a light wall of high insulating value in order to avoid excessive thermal leakage. Usually the thickness of insulation required for such a wall is such that the installation of an effective seal provides a wall with more resistance to blowout than is desired or provides a wall with relatively poor insulating characteristics about the periphery of the blowout panels. Yieldable edge closures frequently leak, deteriorate, and provide unsuitable seals.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved wall structure incorporating at least one panel which may be displaced vby applying pressure to one face thereof.

It is another object of this linvention to provide a Wall structure of the bowout type which has good insulating properties.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a wall structure of the blowout type wherein blowout panels are utilized having an insulating weather seal disposed about the periphery.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a rice blowout panel structure utilizing flexible foam plastic insulation.

These benefits and other advantages in accordance with the invention are readily achieved by providing in a wall structure which comprises: a plurality of frame members having insulating panels disposed within the spaces defined by frame members, the improvement which comprises at least one of said insulating panels having a peripheral groove or recess about the edge of the panel, the adjacent frame members having grooves so constructed and arranged `so as to define a generally annular inwardly facing groove within the space defined by the frame member and adjacent edges of said panel when said panels are positioned within said space, a deformable flexible gasket material simultaneously engaging the edge groove of said panel and said generally annular groove defined by said frame, said deformable flexible gasket material being sufficiently resilient to maintain said panel in position under normal stresses and permit ready removal of said panel under abnormal stresses.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following specification when taken in connection with the drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a face view of a portion of a wall constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view of the `wall of FIGURE l taken along the line 2 2;

FIGURE 3 is a partial cross sectional View of the wall of FIGURE l taken along the line 3 3;

F'IGURES 4, 5 and 6 shows views of resilient gasketing utilized in the practice of the invention.

FIGURE 1 is a sectional representation of a wall in accordance with the invention generally designated by the reference numeral 10. The Awall 10 comprises a plurality of vertical parallel frame members 12 connected to a plurality of horizontal frame members 14. The frame members 12 and 14 define a plurality of spaces 16. Disposed within two of the spaces 16 are insulating panels 17 held in position by means of a foamed flexible gasket 18.

A cross sectional view of the wall 10 is shown in FIG- URE 2 illustrating the construction of the panels 17 which are providedwith a -core of insulating material 19 and face sheets 20 and 21. The edges 23 of the panels 17 are Iprovided with a recess or groove 25 which extends around the entire periphery of the panel. The frame member 12 is provided with a groove 27 generally corresponding to and oppositely disposed from the groove 23 of the panel 17. A resilient deformable gasket 18 is disposed between the panel 17 and the support member 12. The gasket is positioned in such a manner that it engages both the groove 25 and the groove 27.

FIGURE 3 depicts a cross sectional View through the line 3--3 of the wall 10 shown in FIGURE 1.

In FIGURE 4 there is a View of a portion of a gasket 18. The gasket 18 has a generally cylindrical configuration and is readily fabricated from a resilient foam material.

FIGURE 5 shows an alternate cross sectional configuration of a gasket for the practice of the invention generally designated by the Ireference numeral 35.

In FIGURE 6 there is illustrated an isometric representation of a cross section of an alternate gasket in accordance with the invention designated by the refer- E ence numeral 40. The gasket 40 comprises the body portion 41 having a plurality of rib-like elements 43 disposed about the central portion 41. The embodiment of FIG- URE 6 is particularly advantageous when utilized in the installation of relatively heavy panels wherein a maximum quantity of joint insulation is required and relative ease of gasket insertion is needed.

In the practice of the present invention conventional insulating panels which are commercially available may be utilized. Such panels frequently are those which ernploy a foamed plastic core member having disposed on both of the major faces thereof a relatively hard, oil impregnated fiberboard. Frequently such sheets are available in dimensions up to 4 feet wide, 12 feet long, and in ycore thicknesses running from about an inch to about 8 inches. Such panels are advantageously provided with an edge groove which oftentimes is set into a foam core itself or alternately, if the panels are to be removed relatively frequently, such as those panels which are employed in the construction of a building requiring frequent changes of internal equipment, a cap strip may be provided on the edges and a groove formed in the cap strip. The `groove formed in the edges of the panel may be of widely varied configuration. The simplest configuration is that of a V groove, having an apex angle of about 90; such a groove is readily cut into the edge portions of the core of the panel by means of portable electric hand saws, routers, and the like. If desired, two or more generally parallel grooves may be utilized and a corresponding number of gaskets employed. Often it is beneficial to utilize a single endless gasket which can completely encircle the panel being installed although, for ease of installation, a gasket cut to a length just slightly larger than that required to encircle the panel is utilized. Usually the Width of such a gasket in the uncompressed state varies from about 1A to about 3%; of the total thickness of the panel. The gasket which is utilized is fabricated from a resilient synthetic material such as synthetic rubber, foamed polystyrene, foamed polyurethane, foamed polyvinyl chloride, and the like. Such materials are well known in the art and are readily prepared by conventional methods such as by extrusion and molding.

A gasket having a circular cross section is particularly advantageous from the standpoint of fabrication of the gasket as it may be extruded from a round orifice. A round gasket is most easily installed as rolling of the gasket during insertion does not affect its symmetrical form. In cases where maximum insulating value is required, a gasket having a generally elliptical cross section permits a relatively close fit between the panel and the retaining frame and yet gives a maximum depth or thickness of insulation. In the installation of the generally elliptical gasket, care must be exercised in order to maintain the major axis of the ellipse -generally perpendicular to the major surface of the panel, to maintain the Amaximum thickness of insulating material in the joint.

For particularly heavy panels where a minimum clearance between the panel and frame is required the ernbodiment of FIGURE 6 is particularly advantageous. This embodiment employs a plurality of ribs surrounding a central foam structure which permits the installation of a relatively large amount of insulation utilizing a minimum of mechanical force to position the gasket and a minimum of mechanical force for the removal ofthe panel once installed. Frequently, in order to provide maximum convenience in installation and oftentimes to utilize 'materials of a commercially available size, a panel utilized will comprise several parts such as 17 illustrated in FIGURE 1. If a single sheet of insulating material is not used for the panel it may be made up of several sheets with the limitation that each portion of the panel should be gasketed to the frame on at least two generally opposed sides. This limitation is necessary in order to provide adequate rigidity and maintain the panel positions free of rigid nonyielding connection to each other.

Beneficially, the frame or frame members may be metal, plastic, wood, or similar conventional construction materials which are usually selected for suitable physical properties depending on the alternate use of the structure being fabricated. Illustrated in FIGURE 2 is an I beam wherein the spaces defined by the web and fianges have been partially filled with a wooden body defining a groove to receive the gasket material.

As is apparent from the foregoing specification, the manufacture of the present invention is susceptible of being embodied with various alterations and modifications which may differ particularly from those that have been described in the preceding specification and description. For this reason, it is to be fully understood that all of the foregoing is intended to be merely illustrative and is not to be construed or interpreted as being restrictive or limiting of the present invention, excepting as it is set forth and defined in the hereto appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a wall structure consisting essentially of a frame, said frame consisting of a plurality of members, said frame members defining a plurality of spaces, said spaces adapted to receive panels and at least one removable panel, the improvement which comprises: a removable panel comprising a foamed plastic material, the panel having edge surfaces, said edge surfaces defining at least one `generally circumferential groove, said removable panel freely fitting within a removable panel receiving space, the frame members defining said space defining at least one inwardly facing annular groove, said annular groove and said circumferential groove adapted to be positioned opposite each other, and a resilient deformable foamed gasket material in panel restraining engagement with said panel and said frame said removable panel and gasket so constructed and arranged so as to maintain the panel in position vunder normal stresses and permit ready removal of the panel under abnormal stresses the panel maintained Within the frame only by means of the gasket.

2. The wall structure of claim 1, wherein said grooves are generally cylindrical.

3. The wall structure of claim 1, wherein said gasket has a generally cylindrical cross section.

4. The wall structure of claim 1, wherein said panels comprise a foamed polystyrene core having facing sheets on its major surfaces.

5. In a wall structure comprising a frame, the frame consisting of a plurality of members, the frame defining a plurality of spaces, the spaces adapted to receive panels, the wall structure adapted to relieve abnormal internal pressures such as are generated by explosions and the like, the wall having at least one removable panel, the improvement which comprises a removable panel having a foam plastic core and face sheets, the removable panel having edge surfaces, the edge surfaces defining at least one generally circumferential groove, the removable panel fitting free with a removable panel receiving space of the wall structure, the frame members defining the removable panel receiving space, defining at least one inwardly facing annular groove, the annular groove and the circumferential groove positioned opposite to each other, and a resilient deformable foamed gasket material in panel restraining engagement with the panel and the frame so constructed and arranged as to maintain the panel in position under normal stresses and permit the ready removal of the panel under abnormal stresses and the panel maintained within the frame only by means of the gasket.

References Gated by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 311,593 2/1885 Mark 20-92 1,857,490 5/1932 Barrett 52-435 2,266,464 12/ 1941 Kraft 52--586 2,427,937 9/ 1947 Willson 52-198 (ther references on following page) 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/ 1951 Willson 52.-262

1/1961 Maude 94-18 8/1961 Cipriani et al 52-456 9/1961 Kitson 52-309 12/1962 Smith 52-309 FOREIGN PATENTS 10/ 1960 Canada. 6/ 1958 France. 9/1958 France.

6 955,816 1/1957 Germany. 470,835 1937 Great Britain.

OTHER REFERENCES 5 House and Home, vol. XVII, page 157, January 1960.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examinez'.

JACOB L. NACKENOFF, HENRY C. SUTHERLAND,

Examiners.

10 D. R. COMUZZIE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A WALL STRUCTURE CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF A FRAME, SAID FRAME CONSISTING OF A PLURALITY OF MEMBERS, SAID FRAME MEMBERS DEFINING A PLURALITY OF SPACES, SAID SPACES ADAPTED TO RECEIVE PANELS AND AT LEAST ONE REMOVABLE PANEL, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES: A REMOVABLE PANEL COMPRISING A FOAMED PLASTIC MATERIAL, THE PANEL HAVING EDGE SURFACES, SAID EDGE SURFACES DEFINING AT LEAST ONE GENERALLY CIRCUMFERENTIAL GROOVE, SAID REMOVABLE PANEL FREELY FITTING WITHIN A REMOVABLE PANEL RECEIVING SPACE, THE FRAME MEMBERS DEFINING SAID SPACE DEFINING AT LEAST ONE INWARDLY FACING ANNULAR GROOVE, SAID ANNULAR GROOVE AND SAID CIRCUMFERENTIAL GROOVE ADATPED TO BE POSITIONED OPPOSITE EACH OTHER, AND A RESILIENT DEFORMABLE FOAMED GASKET MATERIAL IN PANEL RESTRAINING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID PANEL AND SAID FRAME SAID REMOVABLE PANEL AND GASKET SO CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED SO AS TO MAINTAIN THE PANEL IN POSITION UNDER NORMAL STRESSES AND PERMIT READY REMOVAL OF THE PANEL UNDER ADNORMAL STRESSES THE PANEL MAINTAINED WITHIN THE FRAME ONLY BY MEANS OF THE GASKET. 